Golf Tees

According to the United States Golf Associations (or the USGA), anti-slice golf tees are not game legal. Recreationally, you’re welcome to use them when playing by yourself or with friends for a casual few rounds. In competitions and tournaments, however, anti-slice golf tees aren’t legal.

Teeing up your shot properly is the first essential step to starting your game right. It’s quite literally the first thing you should do and put your best foot forward. Start by putting half of the tee into the ground, straight-up and not leaning one way or the other. Place your ball on it carefully and make sure you’re happy with the positioning by putting your driver or wood next to the tee. This checks the tee is the correct height for your chosen tee-off club. The top of your club should meet the ball at its middle. This is why drivers, woods, and golf tees have different lengths in shafts. Next, approach the ball and address it with your feet at shoulder-width, and steady yourself for your swing. When you approach the ball, make sure the ball and tee are lined up with the inside of your lead foot, and amend this stance where appropriate for your own swing. Rest your clubhead on the ground between yourself and the tee, so that the ball is around 2-feet away from you when your knees are bent. Now, swing and follow through!

The only time a tee is used in golf tends to be the beginning stroke of each game, hence why starting a round of golf is referred to as ‘teeing off’. Typically, golfers tee off with a driver, as it combines power with distance for a successful start.

Plastic tees are a modern addition to the game, all things considered. They don’t damage the head of your golf club anymore than a wooden golf tee would, and in fact can stop the club coming into contact with the bulk of the tee. They have little prongs or teeth that hold the ball up off the surface, meaning you’re less likely to come into contact with the plastic anyway.

The two main materials for golf tees are wood and plastic. Wooden golf tees, or bamboo golf tees, are the traditional golfers’ choice. They’re environmentally friendly as they’re made only of natural materials. They don’t tend to last too long, because they can snap on an approach shot, so you may need to replace your stash every few months. This can make wooden golf tees less cost-effective for some, but they’re the traditional and eco-friendly choice. Plastic golf tees have grown in popularity with professional golfers and the modern players. They’re more durable than wooden tees as they’re not as prone (or highly unlikely to) snap after teeing off. However, they are prone to bending after a powerful start to your game and they’re not always the easiest to bend back into shape. This does mean you might find yourself replacing them more often than anticipated. They’re also not as environmentally friendly, but due to their aforementioned sturdiness and durability they do tend to be the more cost-effective option for golfers.

The optimum height for a golf tee if you’re using your driver to tee off is about 3.5 - 4 inches. The right height for your golf tees, though, can come down to personal preference, club preference, and your own body. For example, if you’re tall and your clubs have longer shafts or bigger heads, then you’ll need a different golf tee to someone who is shorter with shorter shaft clubs. Another example of this variation is which golf club you opt for, as irons and hybrids need a different approach and tee set-up than drivers or woods. In general, you want your golf tee to be high enough so that at least half of the ball is above the clubhead with your woods. For hybrids and irons, however, you want the ball slightly above the ground, as the heads are slightly smaller.